Fuse for projectiles and particularly for small caliber high explosive projectiles



Patented June 18, 1935 FUSE FOR PROJECTILES AND PARTICU- LARLY FOR SMALL CALIBER HIGH EX- 'PLOSH'E PROJECTILES Valentin Schlafer, Sommerda, Germany, assignor to Rheinische Metallwaarenund Maschinenfabrik, Dusseldorf-Derendorf, Germany, a cornotation of Germany Application December 26, 1933, Serial No."l04,022 In Germany July 13, 1932 3 Claims. (Cl. 102-37) The invention relates to projectile fuses, in-

tended particularly for anti-aircraft guns, the explosive charge of which, owing to the high sensitivity of their percussion fuse devices, explodes and effects the bursting of the projectile when it high explosive projectiles of the order of magni- -tude of 2 cm. to about 4 cm. diameter or ,even

strikes an aerial target, and which, if the target is missed, acts in such a manner that the projectile does not reach the ground as a compact explosive body, but bursts in the air and is split upinto small fragments. These fuses are, in their general construction, time and percussion fuses, that-is in addition to percussion fuse devices there are provided devices which after a certain, constant, fixed time of flight, set the timeignition in operation. The moment when the projectile automatically bursts after having missed the target is preferably in the falling part of the trajectory.

The object of the invention is to produce a fusewhich possesses the above-mentioned properties with the maximum reliability of action and sensitivity when striking the target, is very safe during transport and when in the barrel and also over a greater initial portion of the trajectory of predetermined length. It is intended that the construction of the fuse shall be simple, slight in bulk, and be particularly suitable for small caliber more.

The combined time and percussion fuse. according to the invention possesses in common with both kinds of fuse, namely the percussion fuse and the time fuse, a percussion fuse device consisting of a movable detonating pin'with an oppositely disposed primer which acts as the initial detonator for the explosive charge of the projectile. For the sake of safety during transport, when the projectile is in the barrel and over a. path of flight up to about 100 m. from the mouth of the barrel, the detonating pin is locked by a safety member which is effective for a predetermined length of time even after the projectile has been fired. The percussion fuse is set in operation by a plunger bearing against the detonating pin and actuated by the impact when a target is struck, and in parallel thereto (if the projectile misses the target and in order that the time fusemay be brought into operation) the deto-,

.nating pin is moved-on to the primer by a second actuating means released after a constant fuse running time. According to the inventiom the simple construction of the fuse is attained in that a 'detonating pin plunger acting on a percussion detonating device common to both kinds of detocussion ignition does not'occur after a constant time interval of the fuse has elapsed, is caused to detonate and acts as a striking charge, exerting a driving force on the detonating pin.

A typical fuse according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fuse,

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at another angle to that of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view 0f the fuse taken on line C-D of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fuse taken on line A--B of Fig. 1.

In the fuse shown, the plunger b is adapted to be displaced longitudinally in a central longitudinal bore in the body a of .the fuse between a for-' wardly disposed closing member 0 and the detonating pin d. The movable detonating pin is located opposite the primer 6, which in known manner' consists of a detonator with a percussion detonating material placed immediately in front of the explosive material. A loose member! secures the detonating pin it against movement to detonate and is, inits turn, secured in position to effect this by a powder charge g. To this charge opens a channel h (Fig. 3) the other end of the channel being open to a longitudinal bore k in the body of the fuse in whichis a second detonating pin i (Figs. 2 and 3). When the projectile is fired a primer 1 by reason of its inertia is shot towards this detonating pin 1' against the influence of the retaining springs l which-tend to press it forward and is thereupon ignited. The flame due to this ignition then passes on the one hand through the channel It to the powder charge of the detonating needle safety device I, and on the other hand through a second channel m to the rear end of a powder train 11., the front part of which endsat the cross duct 0 which terminates near the middle portion of the plunger b.

At the position where the cross duct 0 ends, and consequently also the end flash of the powder train 11. comes. into contact with the plunger b, the crosssection of the plunger which is made, for instance of wood-.-is reduced to a thin stem which joins the end portions of the plunger, and the space so formed is filled by a massof powder 9 so that the cylindrical-form of the'plunger is retained. This column of powder p is ignited by the acts as a percussion charge exerting a driving force on the rear part of the plunger and, therefore, on the detonating pin it so that the primer e set in motion the detonating pin i detonates the.

primer I which in consequence of its inertiais shot back on to it and the consequent flame ignites, on the one hand, the powder train 11, and on the other hand the locking powder charge g of, thedetonating pin safety device I. This is so formed, as regards its composition and size, that after an interval of time sufiicient to ensure the safety of the fuse while in the barrel and also during the initial part of the trajectory, for instance for a time of 0.1 second, and for a distance of about 100 metres from the nozzle of the gun, the loose member 1 is caused by centrifugal force to move into a position which allows therelease of the detonatingpin d. Then, and not until then, is the fuse live; when the projectile strikes a target, the detonating pin d is driven by the plunger b into the primer e so that instantaneousdetonation is produced. -If the projectile does not hit a target, the powder train nwhich likewise is completely ignited after a predetermined time has elapsed (for instance 8 seconds), causes the powder column 10 of the plunger 1) to ignite and ex-' plode. The gases thereby generated force the part of the plunger bearing against the detonating pin (1, and therefore the detonating'pin itself, against the primers, and its detonation causes the explosion of the explosive charge and the disintegration of the projectile.

I claim:---

1. In a time and percussion fuse for projectiles, a detonating pin consisting at least partially of explosive material, a percussion member cooperating with said pln, means preventing actuation of the detonating pin by the percussion member, means for releasing the detonating pin from the preventing means at a predetermined interval after firing the projectile, and means for igniting the explosive material of the detonating pin at an interval after firing the projectile greater than said first mentioned interval.

2. In a time and percussion fuse for projectiles, a detonating pin consisting at least partially of explosive material, a percussion member, means for placing the detonating pin under the control 01' the percussion member only after a certain interval from the instant of firing, and-means for igniting the explosive material of the detonating pinafter a longer interval from the instant of firing.

3. In a time and percussion fuse'for projectiles, a detonating pin consisting at least partially of explosive material, a percussion member contacting said pin, a locking member engaging said pin to prevent its operation by the percussion member, means operative after a certain interval from the firing of the projectile to cause the locking member under the action of centrifugal force to disengage the detonating pin, and means for igniting the explosive material in the detonating pin after a longer interval from the instant of firing.

VALENTIN SCI-ILAFER. 

